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03/12/12, 01:48 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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The yellow, fuzzy stinkies........
That's exactly what they are but oh, so sweet and cute! I purchased three pekin ducklings from TSC last Wednesday. Thought I'd "practice" having ducks before I placed a bigger order (like I was just about to do.) If all goes well with these and I find out that I really love ducks, then I'll place that order with Metzer's that I had planned to. They currently live in my spare bathtub (thanks Minelson!) and are growing like a weed. Hubby and I are making plans for a permanent place outside for them and also for some guineas  I plan on getting some of those to keep down the tick/fire ant/etc. population.
We're even talking about digging a duck pond. Anyone have any advice on that topic? How deep/wide does it need to be? Is this something that will have to be cleaned? Would prefer something that doesn't have to be cleaned
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03/12/12, 02:07 PM
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Ret. US Army
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 870
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As I read your post I thought you were were serious but when I saw the pics you posted, I realized your were quackers.
I hope you have a sense of humor because many don't (and they spit back)
For accommodations depends on the layout of your place. Ducks can live a perfectly good life in a year round safe puddle that is fed by water year round (so the water doesn't stagnate). a child wading pool could be just fine with them (a water mister in August would be a nice treat also)
jim
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03/13/12, 12:08 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,299
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One thing I would do is to move the water as far away from the food as you can. It will keep the water cleaner a bit longer.
Don't dig a duck pond until you've had ducks for a couple years and you know how they work. Anything a duck bathes in will need regular cleaning, though your three ducks might be ok in a large pond with filters. We use kiddie wading pools, they are happy. We have a large one that we drain with a dirty water pump, then hose out every few days.
We've thought about a duck pond, may do it some day, but it will have to be set up to pump the water out of pretty easily. I know the ducks would love it though and it would be a lot of fun to watch them enjoy it.
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~ Carol
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03/13/12, 06:56 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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After the pictures were taken, I figured out the water/food situation. I put one on each end of tub. They are still as messy as ever!
The duck pond will definitely be a thing of the future. Nothing close by, I assure you. It was a nice thought.
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03/13/12, 06:59 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,752
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No advice, but they sure are cute
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03/13/12, 09:34 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,299
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Get your permanent place outside fixed up right away, if you can. By three weeks in decent weather, they can go out with a heat lamp. If your outside place is draft free, has electricity and is set up to keep their water either outside or on some sort of waterproof pan, tray or ?? you can keep them a lot cleaner and your house will be more pleasant. They are tough little things. When I have a larger lot - six or more - and its above 50 at night, they go out under the lights at about a week old. I have a double walled shed for them and they will keep themselves warm (usually they don't bunch up under the light even at that age). I don't let them out of the shed when its wet or cold though.
A great first bathtub for ducklings is a small cat litter pan, they can get in and out pretty easily. If they are too small for that, I use the bottom tray of a large plastic plant pot I have, its about 12" across and about 3" deep. Just something to play in!
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~ Carol
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03/13/12, 10:30 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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Well...........I took them to the vet this morning to get sexed. Just as I figured, 2 boys and 1 girl. I had pretty much thought that myself but they confirmed it. SO........shouldn't I try to re-home one of the boys? I would think that two boys would wear her out. BUT, I've never had ducks before, so don't really know. Re'con how hard it will be to re-home one boy?
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03/13/12, 10:31 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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GrannyCarol, we are supposed to work on the outside living quarters this weekend. That's the plan
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03/13/12, 11:31 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,299
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You will definitely want to rehome one boy. However, he should not be by himself without other ducklings, so not so sure how you want to deal with that. You will find that a pair is fine usually, but if you have more than one drake, you need a ratio more like one drake for 4-5 girls, or they will fight and over breed the girls (which can result in injury).
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~ Carol
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03/13/12, 12:04 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,244
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well......here's a question for ya........If I can't seem to re-home the extra guy, could I have him "fixed?" And would that take care of the fighting? I wonder if anyone ever has ducks fixed?
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03/13/12, 02:04 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,299
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No idea, you'd have to ask your vet.
I enjoy my ducks as pets, but they are livestock. To be honest, I usually eat the extra drakes, they are very good.
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~ Carol
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03/13/12, 05:53 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 6,175
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Extra drake? Pekins make some good eatin'.
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03/14/12, 05:35 AM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
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Those little ducks are adorable! We love our ducks & have had them a few years now, so very comical to watch.
I would imagine if your vet can neuter your duck it will be very costly.
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